Protecting plate for mirror backs



May 12, 1925.

' N. T. ALBRIGHT PROTECTING PLATE FOR MIRR'OR BACKS Filed March 5, 1923INVENTOR. /VE/L 7T @LBR/@H77 Patented ,May l2, 1925.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

NE1L T. ALBRIGnmoF KoKoMo, INDIANA.

PROTECTING PLATE-FOR MIRROR BACKS.

.Application med Maren 5', i923. semi No. 622,917.

VT 0 all whom it may concern.'

l I'eit known that I, Nain T. ALBRIGHT, va citizen of the United States,and a resident of Kokomo, county of Howard, and'State of Indiana,` haveinvented a certain newv and useful Protecting Plate for Mirror Backs;and I do hereby 4declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription-4 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,`in which like numerals refer to like parts. y p This invention relatesto a .protecting plate forthe back of'v mirrors, and partieularly-so-called rear view mirrorsl adapted to be clamped to a vehicle.

In this type of 'mirror there-is no frame or backing as is the case in adoor or wall mirror, thusleaving insonie instances the paint used on theback of the mirror unprotected. The paint so us'ed is more or lessbrittle so that it is apt to be nicked ofi' and the mirror ruined if iteomesin contact with a. hard or sharp article, or be affected by theweather so as toipeel or blister. Efforts to provide a paintwhichwouldnot nick olf, scratch, or be affected hy the weather so as toV showthrough the mirror, having failed,

` it has been necessary to provide a protection for the paint. Wheresuch'protection, such as felt, or similar fabric has been.employed, ithas been necessary to glue it to the back; and upon the expansion orcontraction, the paint is ultimately peeled off or shattered. lVhereineffort has been made to glue eelluloid or similar material over the backof the mirror, the same difficulty has been had, in addition to thedifficulty of securing the edges of the material td the edgesof themirror.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a. backingformed of celluloid, pyralin, aluminum or similar material to'be held inposition thereon .by the ordinary clamping bracket, or other securingmeans, in such manner that the free ends or edges of the backing will beheld tightly against the back surface of the mirrorwhile the greaterportion thereof will be spaced therefrom. Thisarrangement gives a neatappearance to the back of the mirror which may be colored in anysuitable manner desired and eliminates the necessity of securing thematerial to the edges of the glass and permits 4ready expansion and"contraction, without affecting the paint.

The full nature of this invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawingsv and Ithe following description and claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the protecting plate. Fig.. 2is an end elevation thereof mounted upon the mirror. Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing the plate mounted upon themirror. Fig. L1 is a section taken onthe line 4- 4 of Fig. *1.7 Fig. 5is a plan view of the clamping means. 4'g. 6 is a section taken on theline (i1-G of Fig. 5 showing the clamping means secured to the mirror'and the support therefor.

In the drawings there is shown a. protect ing plate for the back of amirror adapted to be clamped thereon formed of Celluloid or similarmaterial and of the same general size and shape asthe mirror to which itis to be clamped. In this case a protecting plate 9 is applied to themirror, oblong in shape, and is of such size as toextend over the entireback thereof. The celluilofid plate is'formed dish-shaped with an outerflanged edge 10 extending about it-s periph.- ery, from which therearises an inclined sloping or bevel-like border 11. From the end borders11 there'is a sloping portion 12 sloping upwardly toward the center andnarrowing to a longitudinal rib 13. Similarly, from the side borders 11there is an upwardly sloping portion 14 extending from each side of theplatetoward the center and meeting with the portions 12 to form ptheridges`15, which converge from each corner to the central longitudinalrib .13. The portions l- Var'e 'depressed on each side of the rib 13 toconform to the shape of the clamp .to be used,- as shown bythe flatportions 16. This -formation of the plate gives an in verted dish-shapeso that the entire inner portion thereof, with the exception of theflange 10, is spaced from the surface of the mirror against which it isclamped.

The protecting plate is clamped upon the back of the mirror 20, by meansof the clamping plates 21 having a pair of clamping ears 22 on each sidethereof which grip the bevel sides of the-mirror, said plates havingrearwardly extending adjacent ears 23 which are secured together by thebolt 24 so that as said bolt is tightened, the ears 22 are rigidlyclamped against the edges of the mirror. The ears 23 are provided withreceiving sockets for the universal ball joint 25 which is mounted on aplate 26 y adapted to be secured to the mirrorvsupport. A;

It Will vbe noted that the plates :21 have the, same general outline asthe receiving portions 16 of the protecting plate so a's t-o I litsnugly therein, and that the rib13 Ofthe tecting plate arepressedagainst the back of the mirror about the periphery thereof, in-

' eluding the ends and corners thereof.

The plate will .thus be rigidly secured to the'back of the mirror sothatthe outer edges and` corners ywill be k.rx'r'ily'held in place and stillpermit the sameto freelyfexpand and contract. .Y 3'

The invention vclaimed is: I

1. The combination Withfa mirror having a treated back for .covering thesilverthert-z-4 on, of means OrcOVerng-and protecting. sind' backcompris1ng`ra protecting plate,- means.- for Jelamp'rng fsaid 1 plateupon the back of the mirror-,fende plurality of ridges'- formedintegralvvit'h' and .as'apartof said plate' for 'transmitting theclamping pressure applied'at theceriterfthereof to the outer end andside edges for holding the. outer edgesthereof` firmly` gai'nst theadjacent surfaee'of the mirror ba ck.

2. The combination with` a mirror having a treatedl back for 'coveringtheslver therei nnmbw on, of means for protecting said back coinprisinga protecting plate, means forelamping said plate upon the hack-of themirror,

and a central longitudinalrib formed inte- Y gral Vwith and as a partofsaid plate and sloping toward vt-he'ends thereof fortransniittingfthe'pressure applied at the center -I 'l tothe ends forholding the'outer edges thereof lirmly against the adjacent surface ofthe mirror back. s

3. The combination with a mirror having a treated back forcovering thesilver thereonof means for protecting said back, dorn.

prlsing a protecting plate tlished from the outer edges to the center,ndfhavirig a plu- 1 frality of f ribs radiating from .thev centerthereof, anda clamp for engaging and forcing the body of said platetoward' the mirror back so that the be held firmly in contact therewith;l

The combination with a mirror having a-treated back'for covering thesilver thereon2 o' means for protecting said back, comprising aprotecting plate-havingthe sur-v .rounding edge adaptedto engage theback.0f .the mirror, said plate being dished v edges only thereof Will I egotoward tliekcenter so asvto be spaced therefrorn,fa rib formed' i111said plate, aridge extending` from the 'center ontwardly, and means lforforcing the body portion vof the plate ,toward the mirror' for forciblyholding only the `outer'edge of' said plate in contact therewith. 1 y

In Wltness whereof, have hereunto affixed lmy signaturef NEIL'T.AL'BRIGHT.

